MAXIMS _ 0I_ A MERCHANT -l"-' Life still hath one romance thug naught can bias-y. for still will guy-m.
"III l4" "ll 70H"! miselianeea, if ehiidboo omee to make him merry.
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So new la eonse our loyfuiieet feast: ' _ iet every one be jolly; each mom with _
ivy leaf is drest. and every post with holly.
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Wise Men from the West
‘ l! Gerald Beibour.
One of the most beautiful things or tug first Christmas. belongs to the realm of “mlm- WW8 the world had time to know or to believe or to be sceptical about the in- carnation at Bethlehem certain wise mm from the East had an ln5p|f‘u°n_
Iflothing doubting they set forth in pay homaso to the Babe in m. Mm“.
Pmblbly a. crowded romance would be writ. ten if we did but know what other wise men
' have thoughtat Ohristmu Mme’
May not momentous or beautiful things have entered the minds of our Wise Men o: tho Western World at the time when less“ humanity rejoiced? '
It was assuredly so with Robert Louiistov.
"W'- W= cannot ffillv lPDreoiate the debt -
we owe to the lonely first Christmas he spent in California. l-le had only his landlady. n: llndlflfd. and the restaurant waiters will: whom to talk. But then along cams chm“ Stoddard who loaned him the "Types" am! "Omoo" of Herman Melville. From hi; his. grapher we know the result-it was here in his darkest hour that he received the im- bulse which in the end "was to cast him oul
' es by a ireshet upon those ultimate isles."
How different was a memorable Christmas passed by the famous Dr. Arnold of Rugby. He spent it at Fox l-low in writing long let. ters on abstruse theological problems, and planning a course of lectures on history. A week later he was able to say he had nearly finished six, and they became among the best knovm of his writings.
More seasdnable thoughts came to Lewis Caroli at Christmas for he would tell stories to the children who loved to gather around him. Prince Uagug who appears in "Sylvie and Bruno." first took shape in just that ‘Ill’. for he talked about Uggug to the chil. dren by the yule-tide fire at Hatfield.
It is probable-that we owe the inspiration we may draw from John Ruskin. to the en- eooiI-aemcnt which came to him at Christ- mas to t_urn author and artist. Ha was only sixteen and undecided as to the future. when a. friend askéd him to write some verses to fit an illustration. The young man was pro- foundly thrilled when on Christmas Day a parcel reached him at Heme Hill containing e. gorgeous gilt morocco volume inscribed. "To John Ruskin, from the publishers." it would have been enough to turn the head of many an ambitious youth. but happily it only turned the thoughts oi Ruskin to better things. .
A Message to Little Girls.
1111a Wise Man of the West was destined to make yet another Christmas memorable, for his preface to "Ethics of the Dust." dedi- cated to the Reel Little Housewives. bears the date of Christmas. lacs. It was his mes’- sage and holiday lesson for all English-speak- -ing little girls who chose to read him.
One oi the greatest short story writers of our western world figured in a Christmas episode which is a mlsnont and dramatic contrast to all that we associate with the marry, merry time of Yule. Picture O. Henry in a prison of the golden west reading the manuscript of "The Christmas Oharrapal" to two fellow convicts. One of these men has said that from the time his rich. low hesit- ant voice began there was breathless sus- pense. until suddenly Bill Raidler gulperi. and Henry, known as Porter. looked u? I! one aroused from e. drcflm- Rlldltl’ Film!" and jammed his maimed hand into his 93'9-
"Curse you, Porter. I never did it in m! life before." the convict cried. “By God. I didn't know what, a tear looked like.”
This spectacle oi two train will”?! W00- ing while o. nern-y told them his Christmas story, is surely one of the most moving illus- trations of what wise men of the west ha" been doing while the merry bells were ring- ing.
Undone!
Anti the thought of bells reminds one of John Donne whose thoughts continue to
provide rich ore for many of our preachers.
and thinkers. He risked all for love, by W‘ cretly marrying his sixtAen-year-oid bride one Christmas-tide. and it coat him his no" as secretary to Bir Thomas Igerton. the lord Keeper of the Great Seal.
The father of the bride was furious. and solo the lovers that they mo not t» “PM any money from him. but Donne had e whimsical thought. when the match will made he sent a note which ran: “John Donne, Anne Donne. Undone." OM "l" father-ln-iew was so amused that he re- lonted.
(Continued on Pall l)
The People's Paper
CHARLUTTPTPOWN. CANADA. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21. 192‘)
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; ‘ILUKE 2:7-14-—.4nd she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in su-iahklfutg clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for him in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, and, Io, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were aorc afraid, and the any?!
said unto them, Fear not! for behold, bring
December 24th. i Up, very much betimes. for we are
"solved m be very merry this Christ-
mas. my poor wife having invited Aunt Jane Pepys, w. Pinion and his wife, Cousin Peter Pepys. several of her relations. and I know not who else to spend Christmas with us. But. lord! how we are oavlns w sleep them and cook for them i know not. our cook-maid Jone having gone. touching the matter of the bcrax getting into the puddlnl. and m)’ wife, poor wretch. all alone without- serving maid oi any kind. So about
three of the clock. along comes Aunt Jgng Pepys, to be followed presently
by w. Pinion and the rest of them.
All fell to being very merry. and when
after dark the waits did come a-Dllif-
lng outside the house. I thinking to
hand them two pence, but being all
a-fuddied. did unfortunately. give m“. two two-shilling pieces, which "us ma, so passing angry for the
“gt g1 the evening. but lord forgivl
Mr. "Pepy’s Enjoys Christmas
By Adrian Starr.
mel I can hardly remember what hap- pened after eight of the clock. for l dimly remember. though. going to get a clean silk handkerchief (us i thought), and taking by mistake my poor wife's new frock. which is not to be wondered at, as the frocks are so skimpy these days.
December 25th. Christmas Day.
Up betlmes again to find all the guests a-grumbling at the accommo- dation (or lack of accommodation) we had provided for them. Lordl but I hope we may get, through this time without mishap, which i doubt. we having four more guests than We can provide for. However. after break- fast, we fell to being very merry. and my wife disappeared to get the dinner a-going. So anon. it being past one of the clock. W. Pinion. who hath. methinks. the manners of a country bumpkin. did ask in his sarcastic way if we dined late. so I to the kit-
Continuod on page 8
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you gnarl tidings of great joy. whidl 871d” be t6
all people for unto you is burn this day in flze city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall flml the Babe wrapped in swaddlirli] clothes, lyingjn a nuurger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude 0f the Heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory f0 Glad in the highest, and on earth peace, good-lull fo-
wnrd men.
. Christmas With Dickens
By Howard lialdanc
Eighty-six years have passedslnce Charles Dickens gave to a delighted world the first of his far too few Christmas stories, whose tenderness, humour and‘ great-hearted human- liy made him the most beloved of British authors.
It was in the autumn of 1843, when he was living with his young family in Devonshirc dbl-race. Regent's Park, that "A Christmas Carol, in Prosc- being a. Ghost Story for Christmas,"
was written (like most of Dickens'_
work) at high pressure. At the time he was working on_ "Chuzzlewltfl-Wa race against time"; but it was no less important that the "Carol" should make its appearance for Christmas. Thus week after week he was at his desk a dozen hours or more a day. exhausting himself and his nerves to a dangerous extent. And when he could write no more he would sally forth on long aimless walks through the London streets. covering a dozen or fifteen miles before, in the early l
hours of the morning. hc sought his bed. "He never loft home," we read. "before ‘the owls wont out. and led the most solitary of lives." And. as with "The chimes." a year later. as he wrote "Tho Carol," he "laughed and wept again, and exited himself in the most extraordinary manner."
"The Carol." was quick to find its wuy into the hearts oi’ the reading public. it was a direct appeal of heart to heart such as few. if any, could resist. copies were sold in thou- sands. as fast as-they could be pro- duced; Dickens was deluged with let- tors from all ports of thc world, lull of gratitude and admiration.
The manuscript of “The Carol" has had many vicissitudes since Dic- kens presented it to his old school- icliow, Thomas Milton. Fifty years ago it was sold for 250 to n. book- seller. Mr. Harvey. who re-sold it to Mr. George Churchill. a collector.
Continued on page 8
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Christmas Uncle 's
Coodleed
By E. B. ilealy.
“What shall little children sing‘!
Oil Christmas Day ill the morning,
Love and joy to Christ their King
0n Christmas Dav in the morning.
Carol, oh. carol. Christmas is here.
Gladdest or ail the days in the year,
Carol! Caroll! Carol!!! CarolHii Car-—"
"Go and carol further down the street, please. here is a shilling for rny share Thank you very much."
"Thank You, Sir. Happy Christmas, Sir. A very. vcry, happy Christmas. and very many of ‘em, Sir. and-"
Further felicitations were cut short by the closing of the door. and the band of ragged, but smiling children, departed to continue thrir vocal efforts further down.
They were requested. ill tones more forc- ible than polite. to remove themselves. and their carols, from the vicinity.
“Sakes alivo-but aren't some folks acid, at what Miss Stokes calls this ’ere season -of pieces and good-wiils-whatevcr that means!"
"Peace. and good-will, ‘Arold. You never do say your words proper. You'll never be a. gentleman—-you wont." .
"Never mind about my grammars. But let's ‘ave a squint at the bobl Is it good?"
"Of course, it is. Herc. I'll bite it. like my Dad does. when he gels a shilling tip."
Larry Murphy never had any trouble with his aspirates. Larry had only recently cross- ed the channel to live with his taxi-driving father
"First time 1 ever remembers getting e real bob. That there bloke must be a proper gentleman, so 'e must. 1 vote we share aud spend. this minute."
And while the ragged but jubilant group were squabbling as to the sl-laring of the wall tested precious coin. "that there bloke, the bestower of the treasure. was sitting with bowed head. meditating moodlly as to where he shouldspend his Christmas."
Kevin Connolly was thirty-nine. He had no sunwons t t he knew of. The only one he .' ever known was his old grandmother. Sir ‘ad brought him up from babynood. Sh. ' .cl when the incl was twelve. Father Mu, ‘ .- who had always taken an interest in l- .~ bright-faced bay. took him lnm his hon i-le taught him Latin and Greek. and wl" a vacancy turned up in the village sci: i ior a monitor, Kevin was chosen. At on; n he finished his monitorship and en- t0!‘ :l s Trainnig College. Then Father Mur- pi: died suddenly, and Kevin found himself wi. out a helper. He passed his examina- tich; brilliantly. and at the end of his two years. obtained a position in a Liverpool sclw: He taught. all day-and studied all might. took a. degree. and drifted to London. Nor: at thirty-nine, he had attained the top- mw step of the teaching profession. He we‘ 1d master of a famous school. l-lis lei u Father Murphy would have termed Pflfl ‘iv. But he was a lonely man.
"What snail little children sing on Christ- mas Day in the morning?"
There were those urchins back again, car- olllng joyozzsly in their shrill voices. Littlamw Cl1l1d!'f‘li—ll0\‘.' they tugged at his heart ' strings! ll only n: had a home. and a wife and little children! The best gifts of life had pass-ed him by. Cl1ristmas-—-he conjured up visions of Yule logs. mistletoe, plum-pud- dings. Christmas stockings. happy faces. vclrcs and laughter.
.51; as he looked down the years, all he could see in life was a series of lonely Christ- masses spent in lodging houses, and in later times hotels. where he shyly avoided the nulsy family parties. and unattached ladies who looked longingly at him.
But why shouldn't he have a good time?
- l-le had health, money-and yes-he didn't look his agel He had a slim. lean figure, and pleasant rather shy blue eyes. Why shouldn't he have a real Christmas-just for once? A Christmas in old lreland—Yes-—
He took dorm a directory. Ireland. What homely names! Ahascragh. Ahabullog. Ah- ashla, Analccntlia, Baliybugan, Bailythis and
Bailythat. He couldntdeclde. He went
right through the images. Then he stopped.
Shanvailymore. What a soothing old name!
Near Mallow, too! 111st was where his only
lrish rmistant came from. Well. he had
decided. He would spend his Christmas
$11270.
New for his family. Ahern. Burke, Breen. Connolly-his own name. i-ie must run round at once and find out something about the Connolly's of Slianvalieymore. Perhaps. they had some long lost relatives! He had just one week before school closed-a week to make his plans! Life is worth living when one has decided on an adventure.
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